Collapsable modular cabinet

ABSTRACT

A modular storage system includes a first cabinet and a second cabinet. Each of the first and the second cabinets defines a cabinet space having a substantially planar right face and a substantially planar left face, a substantially planar top face and a substantially planar bottom face when the cabinet is in a deployed position. Each of the cabinets includes a front right flange, a front left flange, a top member, a bottom member, a rear frame and a right foldable wall attaching the rear frame to the right flange, and a left foldable wall attaching the rear frame to the left flange. The right foldable wall includes a right attachment point and the left foldable wall includes a left attachment point configured to mate with the right attachment point of the first cabinet and facilitate fixed attachment to the left attachment point of the second cabinet in side-by-side relationship.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to modular cabinet technology and, morespecifically, to collapsible modular cabinet technology.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A trend in residential construction, owners selectively take on the taskof finishing utility rooms, garages, and home offices. The trend isfueled by the desire of owners to personalize their working spaces andto complete their residences at lower expense by assuming some of theless technical tasks in finishing out the living spaces. The trend hasspawned a new term, “bonus room.”

A bonus room is a term mainly used in the United States. The bonus roomis a large room in a house that could be used as a multi-purpose area.Unlike an American bedroom, the bonus room generally does not usuallycontain a closet. Owners may use the bonus room as a sewing or hobbyroom, game room, or office. Bonus rooms are sometimes located over agarage or in an attic area with partially reduced ceiling height or someother less desirable characteristic. Like the garage, the bonus room isgenerally finished through the residence owner's own efforts to theowner's own needs for the space.

The trend has also spawned a market for readily assembled casework orcabinetry used to give function to the otherwise featureless spaces.Known as “knock-down” or “Do-It-Yourself” (or “DIY”) cabinetry, thegeneral standard for construction is of particle board with melaminesheathing finished with thermoplastic endcaps. Such cabinets tend,unfortunately, to be difficult to construct, the soft particle boardrequiring specialized hardware with large flanges and prongs; to requireextensive instruction manuals to impart the necessary skill to performthe complex tasks assembly requires; and to be easily blemished inconstruction and use. Additionally, the volume of packaging needed tocontain the components before assembly significantly adds to the expenseof shipping the components, an expense that is borne by the residentialowner upon purchase.

What is needed, then, in the art, is a modular cabinet system includingcabinet casework that readily assembles without specialized skills bydeploying from a collapsed to an erected position and providing readyinterconnection. Interconnection of selected collapsible units intospecialized installations answers an unmet need in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A modular storage system includes a first cabinet and a second cabinet.Each of the first and the second cabinets defines a cabinet space havinga substantially planar right face and a substantially planar left face,a substantially planar top face and a substantially planar bottom facewhen the cabinet is in a deployed position. Each of the cabinetsincludes a front right flange, a front left flange, a top member, abottom member, a rear frame and a right foldable wall attaching the rearframe to the right flange, and a left foldable wall attaching the rearframe to the left flange. The right foldable wall includes a rightattachment point and the left foldable wall includes a left attachmentpoint configured to mate with the right attachment point of the firstcabinet and facilitates fixed attachment to the left attachment point ofthe second cabinet in side-by-side relationship.

The present embodiments additionally include a system for modularerection, mounting, and connection of collapsible storage cabinetsemploying cleats fastened to walls. One embodiment of the cleats arehorizontally disposed to allow translational movement of erectedcabinets along the cleats into mating engagement at attachment points onthe foldable walls. By facilitating the translational movement andmaintaining registration of the first cabinet with respect to the secondcabinet, the cleating system assures stressless non-deforming mating ofcabinets within the modular system.

In accordance with further embodiments, internal shelving rails engagetongues within the cabinets to further assure rigidity of the cabinet.Tongues formed in the foldable walls mate with the shelf rails to urgethe front and rear plates of the foldable walls into planar alignment.When so aligned, the foldable walls remain locked in the deployedposition for accurate mating one to another by suitably aligningattachment points in the modular system. Attachment points are uniformlydisplaced in intervals from the bottom member and from the rear frametherefore allowing cabinets of varying widths and purposes to be matedand attached.

In accordance with other embodiments, a raisable work surface isprovided that attaches rigidly to the attachment points spanning a spacebetween a first cabinet and a second cabinet. The work surface includesa scissors jack elevation mechanism such that rotation of a threaded rodwill raise and lower the work surface relative to the adjoining firstand second cabinets.

In accordance with still further embodiments, a corner cabinet exploitsthe same collapsible construction by including a back frame comprising afirst and a second rear plate in hinged attachment. The hinge beingconstructed to allow the second rear plate to rotate with respect to thefirst rear plate from a first position of parallel to a second positionof being perpendicular to the first rear plate. In the second position,the rear frame will conform to a corner, thereby allowing the modularstorage unit to conform to a cornered wall. A mullion is placed toprovide an attachment point for catches securing swinging doors.

In accordance with yet other embodiments, a keeper assembly fences aportion of the perimeter of a top member. The keeper assembly includes alattice of keeper rails with attachment to the top member and keeperstiles that serve to contain objects placed upon an upper surface of thetop member. The keeper rails attach to the top member, in an embodimentby insertion into receptacles formed in the top member to receive thekeeper rails. In an embodiment, selective placement of keeper railsallows communication of the fenced area over the tops of severalcabinets making the keeper rails suitable for containing elongate loadssuch as pipe or conduit.

As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, theembodiments provide modular and flexible storage that may be selectivelyemployed to conform with the storage needs of a space. By suitableselection of the cabinets, keeper assemblies, and work surfaces, themodular storage system will suitably equip any of a bonus room,basement, or garage for an intended purpose. Varieties of finishes andselections of configured cabinets allow the use in any of a home office,sewing room, recreation room, or workshop.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention aredescribed in detail below with reference to the following drawings.

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an exemplary cabinet in the deployedposition;

FIG. 2 is an isometric detail view of the foldable wall includingattachment points;

FIG. 3A is an isometric cutaway drawing showing the shelf railsupportively engaged by the tongue;

FIG. 3B is an side view drawing showing the shelf rail in phantomsupportively engaged by the tongue;

FIG. 3C is an orthogonal view drawing showing the shelf railsupportively engaged by the tongue;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a door hinge assembly including doors;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a corner cabinet showing rear walls inphantom;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of a corner cabinet including a mullion andkeeper assembly;

FIG. 7A is an isometric view of the keeper assembly;

FIG. 7B is a cross-section view of the keeper assembly;

FIG. 8A is a detail cross-section view of a cleat and a cleat recess forhanging cabinets;

FIG. 8B is a rear view of the rear frame with cleat recesses for hangingcabinets;

FIG. 8C is a cross-section view of a cleat and a cleat recess forhanging cabinets;

FIG. 9A is an isometric view of a work surface in a raised positionspanning the attachment points on the first and second cabinet;

FIG. 9B is an isometric view of a work surface in a lowered positionspanning the attachment points on the first and second cabinet;

FIG. 10A is a front view of a raisable work surface showing the loweredposition in phantom; and

FIG. 10B is a side view of a raisable work surface showing the loweredposition in phantom.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A modular storage system includes a first cabinet and a second cabinet.Each of the first and the second cabinets defines a cabinet space havinga substantially planar right face and a substantially planar left face,a substantially planar top face and a substantially planar bottom facewhen the cabinet is in a deployed position. Each of the cabinetsincludes a front right flange, a front left flange, a top member, abottom member, a rear frame and a right foldable wall attaching the rearframe to the right flange, and a left foldable wall attaching the rearframe to the left flange. The right foldable wall includes a rightattachment point and the left foldable wall includes a left attachmentpoint configured to mate with the right attachment point of the firstcabinet fixedly attaches to the left attachment point of the secondcabinet in side-by-side relationship.

Referring to FIG. 1, a modular storage system includes a first and asecond cabinet 10. The first and second cabinets 10 connect one toanother by means of attachment points 63 in order to allow constructionof system of cabinets according to the needs of a purchaser. Thecabinets 10 include foldable walls 33 r (left not shown but of similarconstruction) spanning between front flanges 12 r and rear flanges 27 r.Each foldable wall 33 r includes a front plate 36 r hingedly attached toa rear plate 45 r. The foldable walls 33 r are, themselves, hingedlyattached at the rear plate 45 r to the rear flange 27 r and at the frontplate 36 r to the front flange 12 r, thereby allowing the foldable wallto fold from a deployed position to a folded position in“accordion-pleat” fashion upon itself.

When in the deployed position as shown in FIG. 1, a top member 87 and abottom member (not shown) are fastened to the foldable walls 33 r, 33 lto fix the geometric relation of the front plates 36 r and the rearplates 45 r to each other and to the front flange 12 r, the rear flange27 r, and the rear frame 24. On at least one of the front plate 36 andthe rear plate 45 there are the attachment points 63 to mate the firstcabinet 10 to the second cabinet 10 to form the system.

A transom 11 and a kickplate 13 further fix the position of each of theright front flange 12 r and the left front flange 12 l with respect toeach other and facilite hanging of a right door 22 r from the rightfront flange 12 r and a left door 22 l from the left front flange 12 l.The transom 11 and kickplate 13 enhance the rigidity of the fixedrelationship between the right front flange 12 r and the left frontflange 12 l. Additionally, the transom 11 and kickplate 13 give afinished appearance to the cabinet 10 while providing a stop and sealsurface for the right and left doors 22 r and 22 l.

Similarly, as seen in FIG. 2, a rear frame 24 includes each of the rightrear flange 27 r and the left rear flange 27 l, and rather than atransom 11 and a kickplate 13 acting in tandem, an embodiment includes arear frame plate (not shown) similarly to fixing the geometric relationbetween the right rear flange 27 r and the left rear flange (not shown).

Additional rigidity for the exemplar cabinet 10 is provided byinterlocking of a shelf tongue 81 supporting a shelf rail 84, as seen inFIGS. 3A-3C. The tongue 81 is advantageously formed in one embodiment bycutting at least an inverted “U” into either or both of the front plate36 r or the rear plate 45 r and bending the remaining material to becomethe tongue 81. Further forming of the tongue 81 conforms the tongue 81to the shelf rail 84 in biasing engagement. Because the shelf rail 84 isan extended and substantially linear structure, its being engagedlysupported by tongues 81 in either or both of the front plate 36 r andthe rear plate 45 r (and similarly with the left front and rear platesnot shown) prevents the front plate 36 r and the rear plate 45 r frommoving from the deployed position (shown) to the folded position (notshown). The tongues 81, therefore prevent pivoting of the front plate 36r and the rear plate 45 r with respect one to another about a middlehinge pin 57 r. As the rail makes contact with each of the front flange12 r, the front plate 36 r, the rear plate 45 r and the rear flange 27 rfixing them in the deployed position retaining them in generallycoplanar relation.

Referring to FIG. 2, the coplanar relation of the front flange 12 r, thefront plate 36 r, the rear plate 45 r and the rear flange 27 r isenforced by a design of a front hinge including at least one rearwardhinge eyelet 15 r and at least one front plate front eyelet 39 rpivoting hingedly about the front hinge pin 54. The at least onerearward hinge eyelet 15 r and the at least one front plate front hingeeyelet 39 r are configured to allow only about 90 degrees of rotationrelative to each other from the folded to the deployed positions. Thelimitation of rotation further facilitates rigid relation relative toeach other in the deployed position.

Similarly, a design of a rear hinge assembly includes at least onefrontward hinge eyelet 30 r and at least one rear plate rear eyelet 48 rpivoting hingedly about the rear hinge pin 60. The at least onefrontward hinge eyelet 30 r and the at least one rear plate rear hingeeyelet 48 r are configured to allow only about 90 degrees of rotationrelative to each other from the folded to the deployed positions. Thelimitation of rotation further facilitates rigid relation relative toeach other in the deployed position.

A middle hinge completes the “accordion-pleat” arrangement of thefoldable wall 33. A design of the rear hinge includes at least one frontplate rear hinge eyelet 42 r and at least one rear plate front hingeeyelet 51 r pivoting hingedly about the middle hinge pin 57. The atleast one front plate rear hinge eyelet 42 r and the at least one rearplate front hinge eyelet 51 r are configured to allow only about 180degrees of rotation relative to each other from the folded to thedeployed positions in the complementary direction of the rotation aboutfront hinge pin 54 and the rear hinge pin 60 described above. Again, thelimitation of rotation further facilitates rigid relation relative toeach other in the deployed position.

Along with the foldable wall 33, there are also shown the rear frame 24and the front flange 12 r. A design feature of the illustratedembodiment is also shown. The front flange 12 r is further configured toinclude an offset distance d offsetting a door hinge pin (not shown) tofacilitate operation as discussed below with respect to FIG. 4.

Also visible is the right attachment point 63 r configured forattachment to a left attachment plate (not shown). The left attachmentpoint is configured to mate with the right attachment point such that,in mating, the right attachment point of the first cabinet 10 (FIG. 1)fixedly attaches to the left attachment point of the second cabinet 10(FIG. 1) to hold the first and second cabinets 10 (FIG. 1) inside-by-side relationship. An embodiment of the attachment point 63 rincludes a number of bores 64. The bores 64, are themselves configuredto accept the shaft of a fastener (not shown) to allow the attachmentpoints to be fastened together by conventional means.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, as indicated above with reference tothe discussion of FIG. 1, the interlocking of the shelf tongue 81 withthe shelf rail 84 supports a shelf within the cabinet 10 (FIG. 1). Asillustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, the tongue 81 conforms to the shelfrail 84 in biasing engagement. Because the shelf rail 84 is an extendedsubstantially linear structure, its being engagedly supported by tonguesin either or both of the front plate 36 r and the rear plate 45 r (andsimilarly with the left front and rear plates not shown) prevents thefront plate 36 r and the rear plate 45 r from moving from the deployedposition (show) to the folded position (not shown) by pivoting withrespect one to another about a middle hinge pin 57 r. As the rail makescontact with each of the front flange 12 r, the front plate 36 r, therear plate 45 r and the rear flange 27 r urging them into the deployedposition and making them generally coplanar relation in that position.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the shelf rail 84 is shown in phantom. In anembodiment, the shelf rail 84 terminates in a “C” shape thereby equallyapplying a force to urge, in this case, the front plate 36 outwarddrawing the tongue into tighter engagement with the shelf rail 84. Shelfstiles 85 are any of the members in a frame or panel of the shelf thatextend perpendicularly across the shelf rails 84 together forming arigid rectangular shelf frame.

Referring to FIG. 3C, the perpendicular relation of the shelf rails 84to the shelf stiles 85 lends greater rigidity to the shelf and to thefoldable walls 33 with which it engages. Additionally, the tongue 81 isshown as a protuberance from the forward plate 36 and applies biasingforce to the shelf rail 84 in encompassing engagement.

Referring to FIG. 4, the door 22 r includes at least one flange doorhinge eyelet 69 and at least one door hinge eyelet that rotate about adoor hinge pin 66. The front flange 12 includes an offset that isconfigured to offset the at least one flange door hinge eyelet 69 r by adistance d from a plane formed by the foldable wall 33 r (FIGS. 1, 2).The offset distance d is selected to allow the door 22 r rigidlyattached to the at least one door hinge eyelet 23 r to pivot such that adoor fascia 21 r on the door 22 r will swing in an arc a such that itwill still clear fascia 21 l on door 22 l in the fully open positionshown.

Referring to FIG. 5, an additional advantage of an embodiment of theembodiments is a corner cabinet generally indicated at reference numeral10 c. The corner cabinet 10 c has a rear frame 24 that includes a firstrear frame plate 24 l hingedly attached to the second rear frame plate24 j along a linear hinge 25 allowing the first rear frame plate 24 l topivot out to a right angle with the second rear frame plate 24 j.Foldable walls 33 l and 33 r of the previously discussed constructionare present and hingedly attached to the rear flanges 27 l, 27 r andhaving attachment points 63 (Not shown for clarity, shown in FIGS. 1,2). As in the previously discussed embodiments, the top member 87 andthe bottom member 88 serve to fix the foldable walls 33 l, 33 r, pivotalon their respective rear flanges 27 l, 27 r, relative to the first rearframe plate 24 l and the second rear frame plate 24 j, as well as fixingthe first rear frame plate 24 l and the second rear frame plate 24 jrelative to each other.

The foldable walls 33 l, 33 r, provide a rigid casework in concert withthe first rear frame plate 24 l and the second rear frame plate 24 j, asfixed by the top member 87 and the bottom member 88, allowing the doors22 l, 22 r with their fascia 21 l, 21 r to swing open and closed asdiscussed above with reference to FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 6, a mullion 86 is inserted to provide an attachmentsite for door catches (not shown) and to complete enclosure of thecabinet. The top member 87 has further utility as a storage shelf. Toenhance that utility, an embodiment includes a keeper assembly 90fencing a portion of the outer perimeter of the top member 87.

Referring to FIG. 7A, the keeper assembly 90, shown in isometric view,includes a plurality of keeper rails 92 welded to keeper stiles 94. Thetop member defines a receptacle 97 to receive the keeper rails providingsecure detachable fixation for the keeper assembly 90. The doors 22 withtheir door fascia 21 swing freely beneath the keeper assembly and thekeeper assembly includes an offset sufficient to present a flush face inconcert with the doors 22 in closed position.

Referring to FIG. 7B, the keeper assembly 90, shown in cross-sectionview, extends, over the doors 22 to a position flush with the plane thedoor fascia 21 define. In the illustrated embodiment, the keeper rails92 extend to the plane defined by the fascia 21, the keeper stiles 94being placed inside of the keeper rails 94 presenting a neat appearance.

Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, novel hanging hardware facilitatesthe ready joinder of the first cabinet (not shown) to the second cabinet(not shown) without requiring assistive support of the cabinets at thetime of joinder. Cleats 101 are extrusions having a “T”-shape, formedwith a stem 103 and a cap 105. A mating “T”-shaped slot 111 defined inthe rear frame 24 includes a throat 113 corresponding in dimension tothe stem 103 and a cavity 115 shaped to receive the cap 105 insupportive engagement. Cleats may be, advantageously, manufactured ofhigh-strength nylon or other materials having a natural lubricity.

As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, the slots 111 extend across the rear frame24 and are uniformly spaced apart by a distance y. In practice, inerecting the modular system, the erecting agent affixes the cleats 101to a wall such that the cleats 101 are level and spaced apart by theuniform distance y. Where an erected cabinet 10 (FIGS. 1, 2), having arear frame 24, is to be hung on the cleats 101, the slots 111 in therear frame 24 are aligned at an end of the cleats 101 such that theslots 111 receive the cleats 101 upon translational movement of thecabinet 10 (not shown). The cabinet slides down the cleats 101 intomating position, being fully supported by the cleats 101. In a preferredembodiment, fasteners are fastened through bores 64 (FIG. 1) in theattachment point 63 (FIG. 1) permanently mating the first and secondcabinet.

Referring to FIGS. 9A and 9B, a working surface 121 is advantageouslyincluded in the modular system. FIG. 9A is an isometric view of a worksurface in a raised position spanning the attachment points on the firstand second cabinet and FIG. 9B is an isometric view of a work surface ina lowered position spanning the attachment points on the first andsecond cabinet. Evident in FIG. 9A is the attachment point 63 on thefoldable wall 33 r, to which a-work surface assembly base 129 isattached. Top units 87 are selected to meet the work surface 121 u inflush relationship when in the raised position. As shown in FIG. 9B, thework surface 121 d can be lowered to a position comfortable for use as awriting desk or for seated work.

One embodiment of the raisable work surface 121 u is evident in FIGS.10A and 10B. Referring to FIG. 10A, using a scissor jack configuration,the raisable work surface 121 u rests on articulating legs 124 upivoting at points on the work surface assembly base 129. In operation,as the work surface shifts from the raised position of the work surface121 u to the lowered position 121 d, the articulating legs support thesurface evenly.

From the side, referring to FIG. 10B, each of the articulating legs 124u include a translation nut 128 that moves along a threaded shaft 127 inaccord with the rotation of the shaft. Thus, the rotation of thethreaded shaft 127, in turn, extends the work surface shifts from theraised position of the work surface 121 u to the lowered position 121 dand back as the needs of the user change.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, as noted above, many changes can be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope ofthe invention is not limited by the disclosure of the preferredembodiment.

1. A modular storage system comprising: a first cabinet and a secondcabinet, each of the first and the second cabinets defining a cabinetspace having a substantially planar right face and a substantiallyplanar left face, a substantially planar top face and a substantiallyplanar bottom face when the cabinet is in a deployed position and havinga front right flange substantially coplanar with the right face, thefront right flange having a right rearward hinge eyelet and, in opposedrelation to the right rearward hinge eyelet, a right door hinge flangehaving a right door hinge eyelet and configured to leftwardly offset theright door hinge eyelet from a plane containing the right face by aright offset distance; and a front left flange substantially coplanarwith the left face, the front left flange having a left rearward hingeeyelet; a rear frame including: a rear right flange substantiallycoplanar with the right face, the rear right flange having a rightfrontward hinge eyelet; and a rear left flange substantially coplanarwith the left face, the rear left flange having a left frontward hingeeyelet; and a right foldable side wall including: a right front platehaving a right front plate front hinge eyelet configured to engage theright rearward hinge eyelet and a right front plate rear hinge eyelet;and a right rear plate having a right rear plate rear hinge eyeletconfigured to engage the right frontward hinge eyelet and a right rearplate front hinge eyelet configured to engage the right front plate rearhinge eyelet; a right front hinge pin inserted through the rightrearward hinge eyelet and the right front hinge eyelet to pivotallyattach the right front plate to the front right flange; a right middlehinge pin inserted through the right front plate rear hinge eyelet andthe right rear plate front hinge eyelet to pivotally attach the rightrear plate to the right front plate; and a right rear hinge pin insertedthrough the right frontward hinge eyelet and the right rear plate rearhinge eyelet to pivotally attach the rear frame to the right rear plate;and a right attachment point; a left foldable side wall including: aleft front plate having a left front plate front hinge eyelet configuredto engage the left rearward hinge eyelet and a left front plate rearhinge eyelet; and a left rear plate having a left rear plate rear hingeeyelet configured to engage the left frontward hinge eyelet and a leftrear plate front hinge eyelet configured to engage the left front platerear hinge eyelet; a left front hinge pin inserted through the leftrearward hinge eyelet and the left front hinge eyelet to pivotallyattach the left front plate to the front left flange; a left middlehinge pin inserted through the left front plate rear hinge eyelet andthe left rear plate front hinge eyelet to pivotally attach the left rearplate to the left front plate; and a left rear hinge pin insertedthrough the left frontward hinge eyelet and the left rear plate rearhinge eyelet to pivotally attach the rear frame to the left rear plate;and a left attachment point configured to mate with the night attachmentpoint such that, in mating, the right attachment point of the firstcabinet fixedly attaches to the left attachment point of the secondcabinet to hold the first and second cabinets in side-by-siderelationship; a bottom member being situated substantially in the planeof the bottom face and configured to attachably connect to and spatiallyfix the rear frame, the right flange, and the left flange relative toeach other; and a top member being situated substantially in the planeof the top face and configured to attachably connect to and spatiallyfix the rear frame, the right flange, and the left flange relative toeach other.
 2. The modular system of claim 1, wherein a front frame isfixedly attached to each of the front right flange and the front leftflange.
 3. The modular system of claim 1, wherein the right front flangeincludes at least one right door and pivotally attached to the rightdoor hinge eyelet and wherein the right offset distance is selected tofacilitate pivotal movement of the right door.
 4. The modular system ofclaim 1, wherein the left front flange includes and, in opposed relationto the left rearward hinge eyelet, a left door hinge flange having aleft door hinge eyelet and configured to rightwardly offset the leftdoor hinge eyelet from a plane containing the left face by a left offsetdistance.
 5. The modular system of claim 4, wherein the left frontflange includes at least one left door and pivotally attached to theleft door hinge eyelet and wherein the left offset distance is selectedto facilitate pivotal movement of the left door.
 6. The modular systemof claim 1, wherein the rear frame further includes a rear wall fixedlyattached to each of the rear right flange and the rear left flange. 7.The modular system of claim 6, wherein the rear wall defines at leastone shaped slot having a “T”-shaped cross-section configured to engage acleat having a “T”-shaped cross-section, the cleat being configured tosuspend the cabinet.
 8. The modular system of claim 1, wherein aworksurface assembly includes a work surface attached to a work surfaceframe, including a left work surface attachment point and a right worksurface attachment point, the right attachment point of the firstcabinet being configured to fixedly attach to the left work surfaceattachment point and the left attachment point of the second cabinetbeing configured to fixedly attach to the right work surface attachmentpoint to hold the work surface between first and second cabinets.
 9. Themodular system of claim 8, wherein the work surface is suspended overthe work surface frame by means of a scissors jack for adjustablyraising and lower of the work surface.
 10. The modular system of claim1, including a shelf having shelf rails and shelf stiles, the shelfrails and wherein the foldable walls include tongue protuberance tograpingly engage the shelf rails holding the foldable walls in planaralignment.
 11. The modular system of claim 10, wherein the tongueproterberance extends inwardly from the right and left front plates. 12.The modular system of claim 10, wherein the tongue proterberance extendsinwardly from the right and left rear plates.
 13. The modular system ofclaim 1, wherein the rear frame includes a first rear frame plate and asecond rear frame plate hingedly attached at a rear hinge to the firstrear frame plate.
 14. The modular system of claim 13 wherein the rearhinge is pivotally limited to allow the second rear plate to pivotallyrotate from an angle of substantially parallel to the first rear plateto and substantially perpendicular to the first rear plate.
 15. Themodular system of claim 1, wherein the front plate front hinge eyeletsand the front plate rear hinge eyelets are integral to front plates. 16.The modular system of claim 1, wherein the rear plate front hingeeyelets and the rear plate rear hinge eyelets are integral to rearplates.